Memes -- DA #4

Introduction

I will be conducting an analysis of a set of three memes through the critical lens of the psychoanalytic theory. The selected memes are all relevant to the community of those with anxiety disorder, which is a subculture of the entirety of mental health disorders. While the origin of psychoanalysis “began as a method for analyzing and treating mental illness,” it is now used in a broader sense as “a theory about how the individual mind, personality, or psyche is constructed and then enters social contexts” (Brummett 179). The analysis will use a semiotic and discursive approach that rely on the key characteristics of the psychoanalytic theory that are crucial to initially understand. First, this theory assumes that the formation and interpretation of an individual’s sense of self are dependent upon how they situate themselves in relation to something else, such as external signs and representations. Secondly, while these external factors are maintained throughout one’s life, identity is simultaneously “created through the painful process of learning that we are separate from other things and people in the world” (Brummett 181). Additionally, signs achieve this level of power to determine how identity is formed by offering “people a chance to return to that original state of being a whole, complete person, a state before we knew ourselves to be separate beings” (Brummett 182). Lastly, the “psychoanalytic theory strives to explain certain characteristics that seem to be common to most members of a culture” (Brummett 183). This analysis demonstrates how these memes utilize common attributes associated with anxiety disorders in order to unify this subculture. Those who suffer from anxiety disorders understand their identity as separate from those without mental health disorders, so these memes offer a sense of wholeness by uniting this group under widely shared experiences.

Source: Brummett, Barry S. Rhetoric in Popular Culture (p. 183). SAGE Publications. Kindle Edition.

Meme #1

Semiotic -

The meme contains two sets of text and two separate images from what appear to both be taken from a scene in the TV show The Office. The male character in the image directly interacts with the first set of text, which is made to look like it is written on a whiteboard, by pointing at the phrase “go to the doctors for anxiety.” In the second image below, the character now sits beside a new phrase written on the whiteboard stating, “cancel bc too anxious to go.” The whiteboard is a sign commonly associated with classrooms, thus framing the meme with an informative intent as if it were using the written statements to directly instruct an audience. While the majority of people may be confused as to why someone would consider visiting the doctor as a struggle, the meme enlightens them on the concept of how this scenario may be anxiety-inducing for others with a different mental state. The interplay between the texts and the images demonstrates a form of teaching through the instruction on an anxiety and environment cause-and-effect relationship. The male character begins by appearing to point out and explain the first phrase, then sitting directly next to the second phrase with a blank expression. The characters’ expressions exhibit how the first phrase is taught, through his action of pointing, to the lack of action in the second image showing the result of the scenario stated in the first text. The relationship between the text and images signifies that when those with anxiety attempt to go to the doctor for anxiety, they cancel because of the original issue of having anxiety, which is triggered by the doctor's social situation.

Discursive -

Aside from understanding the surface-level meaning of the meme, the discursive approach analyzes how the signs' themes play into a larger cultural context. This meme is popular not only because of its usage of a famous television show but also because of its ability to be easily re-formatted depending on the culture that manipulates it. In this case, the culture it appeals to is those who suffer from anxiety disorders. While those with mental illnesses, specifically anxiety, are frequently separated as an out-group, the use of a popular meme relates to the psychoanalytic theory's belief about the desire to return back to a state where people do not see themselves as separate beings. The capability to understand a well-known meme and television show allows those with anxiety disorder to feel a sense of wholeness and inclusion with all media users. The situation presented through the text and the images allows typically labeled 'outsiders' to feel like they are a part of the norm. Despite the popular meme format, this specific example of intertextuality still displays a unique experience that only those included in the smaller group of anxiety-suffering individuals will understand.

Meme #2

Semiotic -

This meme utilizes text and an image to illustrate an inner dialogue between a person and their own mind. Below the text is a snapshot of a scene taken from the same popular show as the first meme, The Office. The image, containing the words “softly” and “don’t,” interacts with the text as a continuance to the dialogue above by serving as a response to the thoughts from the brain. The dialogue as a whole evokes the meaning of an individual having positive intentions but is countered with the self-battle between those intentions and the urge to act in the opposite manner. While the text itself is rather concerning because of the behavior it outlines, the chosen character and television show in the image are incorporated to add a humorous tone and encourage the meaning to appear more light-hearted.

Discursive -

The unique situation comprised of the text and image is an experience specific to those suffering from anxiety. The psychoanalytic theory aims to deduce common characteristics to a community, which in this case can be done by analyzing the thoughts the brain lists as a collection of behaviors that are similar to most members with anxiety disorder. These behaviors, such as getting “hit with a low mood” and going “nonverbal,” can be grouped as self-destructive tendencies rooted in this mental health disorder. Understanding the significance of these characteristics is crucial to grasp the full meaning of how those with anxiety have the desire to enjoy a positive circumstance but are often confronted with their own internal inclination toward self-sabotage as an uncontrollable coping mechanism. The characteristics are intentionally specific so that only those who have undergone a similar experience will achieve this complete understanding.

Meme #3

Semiotic -

Shifting away from The Office, This meme demonstrates both an action and its sequential reaction through the use of text and an image taken from the comedic animated film The Killer Bean Forever. The text structures the action as a cashier getting a restaurant order wrong, while the image acts as the reaction to this error, in regard to the usual response of those with social anxiety. Rather than using text by itself, the visual adds a satirical aspect to a situation that is usually interpreted as frustrating by using a character and associated subtitle from a comedic film. The text and images work together to illustrate a lighthearted response of settlement and acceptance of an error made by an external force. Viewers of this meme may relate to this experience by considering similarities in the ways they’ve situated themselves relative to this issue, which is directly relavent to the psychoanalytic theory's belief on the formation of identity and sense of self. Since the text explicitly uses the label “social anxiety,” it is easier for people to adopt this term to their identity depending on how they rank the relevance of this meaning.

Discursive -

This action and reaction fit into the larger cultural framework of those with social anxiety disorders. Expanding this meaning extends beyond a light-hearted approach to this experience, as those who are part of this social anxiety group construct a more profound meaning beyond those unfamiliar with this cultural context. The fear of confrontation, exemplified by this meme, is distinct and prevalent in social anxiety disorders, which is not a light-hearted matter and more so a reoccurring struggle that is common to this subculture of mental illness. Without understanding the larger cultural context, then the depth to which the meaning of this meme represents is masked by the general connotation exhibited by the text and image.

Conclusion

Utilizing a psychoanalytic lens, I was able to identify a trend of common characteristics and behaviors associated with anxiety disorders based on the situational contexts illustrated in the memes. While the surface level meaning of these memes appears to take a lighter approach to deep mental health issues rooted within this community, the discursive approach allowed for an in depth look into the cultural context. These memes not only provide an identity unification amongst the subculture of mental health disorders, but also restores the separation this group may feel from society by using widely known pop culture signs.

Reflection

These memes are selected based on the content featured by my social media algorithm. With that, I was pretty confident in my deeper level of understanding behind the meanings of these memes, as I identify with the community of those with anxiety disorders. While my analysis was conducted with the motive to discover unconsidered signs and meanings hidden within the cultural context, I found myself learning more about the general meanings told by the text and images. Since I am already familiar with the cultural context, due to my alignment with the group, it was interesting to look at these memes with a broader approach in order to understand what others may understand the meme to represent. I never thought to apply this type of criticism to memes, as I have always considered them to be simple comedic pieces lacking any profoundly significant substance. Despite my confidence in comprehending the complexity of these memes, I was surprised to achieve new findings through the psychoanalytic lens. This allowed me to analyze what these memes offered to the audience as a means of catering to their desires. For example, the second meme listed specific characteristics that pertained to those with anxiety and appealed to them through commonality and recognition.